Latest news with #LucyBamber
The Sun
19-06-2025
- The Sun
Baby mauled by vicious Cane Corso after teacher owner crossed road to avoid cat on walk
A BABY was brutally mauled by a massive Cane Corso after a dog-walking teacher crossed the road to avoid a cat. Lucy Bamber was walking her two dogs on leads, including her Cane Corso Hugo, in North Staffordshire on March 2 when the horror attack unfolded. 1 The "remorseful" 26-year-old teacher told a court that Hugo "has never acted in this manner before". She was walking Hugo, a two-year-old, and a nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull in Longton when she saw a cat and crossed the road to avoid it. But they passed the driveway of a home where a baby was outside, and Hugo mauled the child. The baby was left with several puncture wounds to the back and right arm, which are expected to leave permanent scars. The court heard that Cane Corso Hugo "always" wears a muzzle in public and is on a short lead. He also wears a hi-vis jacket which says "I need space" on it. April Lamai, mitigating, told North Staffordshire Justice Centre that Bamber is "willing to do everything in her power to prevent this from ever happening again". By Milad Sherzad EXPERTS have raised concerns over a loophole that allows dog breeders to swerve UK animal welfare laws when importing potentially dangerous Italian mastiffs. Also known as Cane Corsos, the breed is rapidly emerging as the breed of choice for criminals as a replacement for the XL Bully breed it was banned last year. But they are not alone as celebrity owners including soccer star Marcus Rashford and Love Island's Jack Ficham also have Cane Corsos - with many celebs now buying them to guard properties. Cane Corso puppies can sell for thousands of pounds but are sometimes imported from breeders overseas with their ears clipped and tails docked. The procedures are illegal in the UK and canine behaviour experts believe that importing the dogs can be used to circumvent the ban on such surgical procedures in the UK. The concerns were expressed just days after a Sun Online investigation found hundreds of Cane Corso dogs on sale in the UK. The Stoke Sentinel reported that Bamber pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control and being the owner of a dog which was dangerous and not kept under proper control. Ms Lamai told the court: "She only noticed the child after Hugo bit the victim. She immediately pulled the dog away. She was shocked by Hugo's behaviour. "When Hugo is in public he always has a muzzle. He has a short lead. "He wears a hi-vis jacket which says, "I need space", on it. He is undergoing extra obedience and recall training. "She no longer walks Hugo on that road." Bamber was fined £487 and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the mother of the child, £85 costs, and a £197 surcharge. The magistrates said they were satisfied Hugo is not a danger to the public because of his previous behaviour and it being an isolated incident. The magistrates told Bamber: "You are a fit and proper person to own this particular type of dog. "You must keep Hugo under proper control. We impose the following conditions. When outside he must have a fixed lead and a muzzle. "These will last for the whole of Hugo's life. If you do not comply, Hugo may be destroyed."
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Teacher, 26, whose Cane Corso bit a baby is fined and ordered to muzzle dog
A teacher whose Cane Corso bit a baby sitting outside their home has been fined and ordered to muzzle her dog outdoors. The child was left with several puncture wounds to the back and right arm, which are expected to leave permanent scars after the attack in Longton. Lucy Bamber, 26, was walking her two dogs on leads when her Cane Corso Hugo bit the baby who was on the driveway of their home on March 2. April Lamai, mitigating, told North Staffordshire Justice Centre that Bamber is 'remorseful' and 'willing to do everything in her power to prevent this from ever happening again.' The court was told Bamber was fully cooperative with police and the victim's family and has no previous convictions, reprimands or cautions and is of positive good character. Bamber, of Priestley Drive, Longton, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control and being the owner of a dog which was dangerous and not kept under proper control, the Stoke Sentinel reports. 'Hugo had never acted in this manner before,' Miss Lamia said. Miss Lamia said that Bamber was walking her two dogs Hugo, a two-year-old, and a nine-year-old Staffordshire Bull, who were both on a lead, when she crossed the road after seeing a cat. 'She only noticed the child after Hugo bit the victim. She immediately pulled the dog away. She was shocked by Hugo's behaviour,' Miss Lamia said. 'When Hugo is in public he always has a muzzle. He has a short lead. He wears a hi-vis jacket which says, "I need space", on it. He is undergoing extra obedience and recall training. She no longer walks Hugo on that road.' Miss Lamia described Bamber as a 'fit and proper owner' who has owned two dogs previously and has shown she is a 'responsible owner'. Bamber was fined £487 and ordered to pay £300 compensation to the mother of the child, £85 costs, and a £197 surcharge. The magistrates said they were satisfied Hugo does not constitute a danger to public safety because of his previous behaviour and it being an isolated incident. The magistrates told Bamber: 'You are a fit and proper person to own this particular type of dog. You must keep Hugo under proper control. We impose the following conditions. When outside he must have a fixed lead and a muzzle. These will last for the whole of Hugo's life. If you do not comply, Hugo may be destroyed.'
